Cornell William Brooks

Cornell William Brooks, renowned for his tenure as the President and CEO of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) from 2014 to 2017, steered the organization through a period of notable national upheaval. His leadership was characterized by a focus on polls, protest, and policy, leading the NAACP in significant civil rights advocacy and public demonstrations. One of his notable campaigns was the "Journey for Justice" from Selma, AL to Washington, DC, to press for voting rights and police reform. Under Brooks' direction, the NAACP achieved substantial legal victories against voter suppression.

Following his time at the NAACP, Brooks transitioned into academia and currently serves as a Professor of the Practice of Public Leadership and Social Justice at Harvard Kennedy School. Prior to this, he held visiting professor roles at Boston University and was a senior fellow at New York University School of Law. Beyond his academic engagements, Brooks remained active in public discourse as a regular contributor on CNN, frequently appearing on news shows such as "The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer" and "Out Front with Erin Burnett".

Brooks also showcased his commitment to civil rights advocacy through his legislative endeavors, pushing for laws like the Every Student Succeeds Act and significant criminal justice reforms. His activism extended to high-profile acts of civil disobedience, including a sit-in against the nomination of Jeff Sessions, which marked one of the first acts of civil disobedience against the Trump administration. He also testified before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee regarding Jeff Sessions' nomination. Among his initiatives during his NAACP leadership was "Ban The Box", an effort to reduce employment application discrimination against individuals with criminal records.